Avaliação do impacto de dois diferentes métodos de higiene oral com clorexidina na prevenção de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica

Abstract

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a lung infection that affects patients under mechanical ventilation (MV). The main pathophysiological mechanism of VAP is the aspiration of bacterial pathogens of the oral cavity and pharynx. The reduction of bacterial colonization in the oral cavity is one of the preventive measures for this infection, therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two techniques of oral hygiene in preventing VAP. A prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted with patients hospitalized in the ICU of Hospital Geral Dr. Waldemar Alcântara (HGWA). The volunteers were divided into two groups: the method performed as hospital routine that used gauze soaked in 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate every 8 hours (Gauze Group), and another method that was performed with a manual toothbrush imbibed in the same solution every 8 hours (Toothbrush Group). A minimum sample of 23 patients per group was estimated to yield a sample with 90% power and 95% confidence (paired t test). The primary outcome was the occurrence of VAP. This infection was investigated until the end of MV. Secondary outcomes were: [1] assessment of oral health (visible plaque, lingual plate and possible alterations intraoral and perioral normality) and [2] presence / absence of respiratory microorganisms in dental and lingual plate. These secondary outcomes were evaluated in two phases: in the first 24 hours of MV and 72 hours after the first evaluation. The two techniques showed low incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and there was no statistically significant difference between the two oral hygiene methods in preventing this infection. K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were the bacterial species most often isolated. There was no statistically significant difference between the two oral hygiene methods when comparing the efficacy in reducing the incidence of respiratory microorganisms. In the 2nd assessment, less visible plaque index was observed in the group that used the toothbrush.